Document Type

Report

Publication Date

6-30-2019

Subjects

Oregon -- Population -- Statistics, Demographic surveys -- Oregon, Population forecasting -- Oregon -- Baker County

Abstract

Different parts of the County experience different growth patterns. Local trends within UGBs and the area outside them collectively influence population growth rates for the County as a whole. UGBs in Baker County include Baker City, Greenhorn, Haines, Halfway, Huntington, Richland, Sumpter, and Unity.

Baker County’s total population declined slightly in the 2000s; however, some of its sub-areas experienced faster population decline during this period, while others experienced growth. Richland, for example, posted the highest average annual growth rate at 2 percent during the 2000 to 2010 period, while Unity posted the lowest average annual growth rate of -5.9 percent.

The population growth that did occur in Baker County in the 2000s was largely the result of net in-migration. An aging population not only led to an increase in deaths but also resulted in a smaller proportion of women in their childbearing years. This, along with more women having fewer children and having them at older ages has led to births stagnating in recent years. A larger number of deaths relative to births caused a natural decrease (more deaths than births) in every year from 2001 to 2017, resulting in minimal population change.

Total population in Baker County as a whole, as well as within its sub-areas, will likely decrease at a slightly quicker pace in the near-term (2019 to 2044) compared to the long-term (Figure 1). Population decline is largely driven by an aging population and natural decrease outpacing net in-migration. Baker County’s total population is forecast to decline by roughly 700 people over the next 25 years (2019-2044) and by 1,160 over the entire 50-year period (2019-2069).

Description

This report is published by the Population Research Center at Portland State University, and is a product of the Oregon Population Forecast Program.

The introductory presentation, preliminary forecast presentation, and Baker County final forecast tables are attached to this document as supplemental files.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/29299

Baker_County_Sept2018_0.pdf (4976 kB)
Baker County Introductory Presentation Sept. 2018

R2_Baker_032019_0.pdf (565 kB)
Baker County Preliminary Presentation 3/11/19

Baker_Final_Forecast.xlsx (64 kB)
Baker County Final Forecast Tables

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